Copper Basin 300

I must say both Dan and I are very happy with the teams performance at the 2011 Copper Basin 300. Both teams in the top 20; Dan 6th Jodi 18th.

I finished the race and said, “if you do not let it demoralize you the Copper Basin will teach you a lot” and I honestly believe that. The trail can be a challenge, and it is known as a tough race, but a good one. This race was a great opportunity for us to test dogs, gear, and give us all exposure to conditions we have not being seeing much of in the White Mountains this year. Especially water! Yes we had overflow, and river crossings, and all kinds of opportunities to get wet, and I am happy to say we dove in and made the best of it, giving the teams a chance to practice water and ice in all their various forms.
This year’s race was also a very large field, which included many of the states best mushers. See a blog at Northern Lights Media (with photos of Jodi). Our teams got to practice passing and run new trails with new teams, something they seem to really enjoy. And of course we got to see and talk dog with many of our mushing friends, which we always really enjoy

Both of us drew very late starting numbers, decidedly not a good thing. It meant we would have worse trail conditions, as teams going ahead of us would be tearing up the trail in places, and when teams took the mandatory 8 hour rest, and the differential from the start was made up earlier teams would actually end up getting more rest as they had to wait longer to make up for starting before us. But what can you do, it is the luck of the draw.

Dan went out number 49, with a team of males. And they battled a little stomach bug for the first part of the race. But he was able to work with them to get them healthy, and by the end they had bounced back and were going full force. He was able to do a solid 120 mile run to the finish that catapulted him into a lead position, and the team looked great doing it. I went out number 47, with a team of females, and the difficult trail conditions on the first 2 runs really made them work extra hard. And by the end they had picked up the stomach bug. A little extra rest at the last checkpoint was just what they needed in order to get their energy and attitude back. And when we left for the last run I felt good knowing I had my happy little girls back in action.

Start photos courtesy of Theresa Daily

This entire race is run by volunteers, and we both want to say how much we appreciate their efforts, they really do a wonderful job! And talk about above and beyond. When I got to the finish the checker, judge and official all serenaded me, to the tune of “Country Road” but with new lyrics welcoming me “to the place I belong, Paxson Alaska, Jodi Bailey, take me home, country trail” it was a wonderful surprise.

Jodi coming into the finish

Check for mandatory gear at the finish line Photos taken by Dan, who had finished before me

We both also want to say how totally great the Team Dew Claw handlers were: Alyson McHugh and Jamison Kapec. The handlers have a thankless job and are almost as sleep deprived as the mushers. Driving from checkpoint to checkpoint, waiting in the cold and dark, parking the teams, and cleaning up after we leave. In the Copper Basin mushers travel 300 miles, but they way it is laid out handlers probably drive twice that to get everywhere and be there for us. Jamison and Alyson were always there, smiling and ready, they were the best.

After the awards banquet we still had the long drive home, arriving at 4 am to unload and snack the team before heading to bed. Luckily as distance mushers we are used to sleeping when we can and not for long. As that same day we had good friends Ron and Margie Illingworth coming out, they had visiting family and wanted to show them the dogs. It actually worked out well as we had all our racing gear still packed in the sleds and could really share with them what went into preparing for a long distance race. And they loved the dogs, every dog got extra attention and pats from our visitors. At the end of the visit the Illingworths were kind enough to make a generous donation to Team Dew Claw, from their business North Pole Peonies. You can find them all summer long at the Tanana Valley Farmers Market, selling home baked good, flower, and fresh vegetables.

Next Step: Drop Bags
Now all the gear is cleaned and put away, dogs massages and happy to be home. Our next big challenge is to do our drop bags for both teams in the Yukon Quest and my Iditarod. Drop bags are the prepared and packaged bag that are turned into race officials before the event and shipped out to all the checkpoints along the race route. The contain everything you will have for your race. You must plan and prepare carefully, as you are only allowed to use what you have shipped out in your drop bags, so along with the dogs meal and snacks you need; your food and gear, and spare parts of extra items you want, massage balm and foot ointment for the team, extra anything you think you might need., Because if it is not in there you can not get it. We will be working very hard for the next week to make sure our drop bags are well prepared.